Peat land bogs will be better protected, farmers will be asked to use less
fertiliser and builders will be prevented from digging up valuable land
under new plans to protect the nation's soil.

Intensive farming, use of chemicals and erosion has damaged soil in Britain over the last few decades.

However the country will need fertile soil to meet growing demand for food in the future. Soil is also a valuable store of carbon and can release the greenhouse gas if it is ploughed or dug up.

Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary, has launched a strategy Save Our Soils calling for more research into the kind of measures that could help boost soil fertility whilst tackling climate change.

Options include incentives to help farmers maintain peat bogs and use biodegradable waste rather than artificial fertiliser, regulations on builders to stop fertile soil being wasted during development and land management to prevent erosion from droughts or flooding.

"Soil is one of the building blocks of life. Good quality soils are essential for a thriving farming industry, a sustainable food supply, and a healthy environment," said Mr Benn. "Britain's soils hold more carbon than all the trees in Europe's forests – and their protection is critical if we are to successfully combat climate change."

The Soil Association welcomed what it said was a recognition by the Government that the current system of applying large amounts of inputs, such as nitrogen fertiliser was "not sustainable in the long term".

However the Tories said the Government has downgraded the planning protection for farmland and forced many councils to remove special protection of farmland from their local plans - even though they wanted to keep the protection.

:: Natural England have launched a new website to help adults and children boost wildlife in the garden. The Big Wildlife Garden will create an online network of gardens and open spaces where people can share advice, pictures and discover more about wildlife-friendly gardens.